AIRail: Austrian Airlines and ÖBB to launch cooperation

Service, Product, Awards

• Direct link between Linz central station and Vienna Airport: up to eight train connections a day
• AIRail service to start on 14 December 2014, bookable from 2 July 2014 onwards
• Earn miles in same way as travelling by air

From 14 December 2014, Austrian Airlines and ÖBB are to launch a cooperation entitled ‘AIRail’ on the Linz central station – Vienna Airport – Linz central station route. In future, Austrian passengers with an Austrian flight either preceding or following their rail journey will also be able to use new ÖBB connections with an Austrian flight number between Linz central station and Vienna Airport. Integrating Linz into the Austrian Airlines network in this way – in addition to the five daily flights between the two cities already being offered – will provide up to eight extra rail connections a day. The new train route will become bookable, conveniently in one step together with an Austrian flight, from 2 July 2014 onwards. The travelling time from Linz central station to Vienna Airport will be 1 hour 47 minutes. From December 2015 onwards, the rail link will be extended further still, as ÖBB railjets and IC (Intercity) trains are deployed every 30 minutes and the travel time is reduced further, to 1 hour 42 minutes.

“The cooperation with ÖBB is an important step in empowering our passengers by offering them unrestricted mobility, no matter whether it’s in the air or on rails. In addition to this, we are connecting Linz even more strongly into the global network of Austrian Airlines, with up to eight rail connections a day”, says Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Austrian Airlines. Christian Kern, CEO ÖBB-Holding AG adds: "The connection of train and flight is another step towards modern mobility. Our infrastructure investments generate a direct customer benefit, especially the Vienna Central Station acts as a key to the lock and allows this new connection. As of December 2015, our customers can easily travel by railjet to ‘airjet’."

AIRail: earn miles in same way as when flying – and with guaranteed connection
Austrian passengers using AIRail on the route between Linz and Vienna can earn miles on the Miles & More programme in the same way as they would do when travelling by air. They also benefit from guaranteed onward transportation, no matter whether their journey is continued by air or rail. At platforms in Linz and Vienna Airport, an ÖBB porter will help passengers load and unload their luggage. Austrian Business Class passengers will travel in the First Class compartment of the train, and receive free access to the ÖBB Lounge at Linz central station before departure.
With AIRail, for instance, Austrian guests can travel by train from Linz to Vienna and onward by plane to Milan starting at a price of 179 euros. All service charges and taxes as well a seat in the Austrian compartment are included in the price.

Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines is Austria’s largest carrier and operates a global route network of round 130 destinations. That route network is particularly dense in Central and Eastern Europe with 41 destinations. Thanks to its favourable geographical location at the heart of Europe, the company’s hub at Vienna International Airport is the ideal gateway between East and West. Austrian Airlines is part of the Lufthansa Group, Europe’s largest airline group, and a member of the Star Alliance, the first global alliance of international airlines. The flight operations of the Austrian Airlines Group has been bundled at its 100% subsidiary Tyrolean Airways since 1st July, 2012.